When Kenny Britt entered free agency after a tumultuous career in Tennessee, that included several off-field arrests and a several knee injuries, many experts didn't consider him as much of a free agent with sub-standard upside. Still only 25 years old, Britt wasn't getting many considerations during the first few weeks of free agency. It's not surprising since many teams consider him more of a liability than an asset.
Luckily there was one team willing to give Britt one more chance. And it isn't exactly a coincidence that the one coach who was willing to take on Britt was the coach who had to deal with him while both were in Tennessee: Jeff Fisher.
Britt's contract isn't anything to brag about. At a one-year/$1.4 deal that can grow to $2.9 million through incentives, it's not only a team friendly contract, but also a deal that will give Britt one more chance to prove he can be a force in the receiving game.
Fantasy football owners who are looking for a diamond in the rough this offseason shouldn't look any further than Britt. As a Titan, Britt's on-field presence was diminished by constant knee injuries. But there were plenty of examples of just how good he can be if everything is aligned just right.
One such game occurred on October 24, 2010 when Britt caught 7 passes for 3 scores and 225 receiving yards in a 37–19 victory over the Eagles. These types of games didn't happen very often, but it shows me that Britt can put up huge stats on any given week. Just have to make sure those knees hold up and he can keep his nose clean.
FANTASY OUTLOOK:
Britt has always been overvalued in fantasy leagues in the past. A WR2 he is not, even if he is the best of the bunch that the Rams have at receiver. His signing automatically places him as the No. 1, with Chris Givens getting bumped down to No. 2. The talk of the town in 2013 was Tavon Austin, but he is more of a gadget player than someone who can give you steady points each week as a receiver. Austin's presence does help take some defensive attention away from Britt, something he didn't get much of in Tennessee. Britt's former teammate TE Jared Cook, after a disappointing 2013 season, is also in the mix.
The biggest wildcard in the Rams offense is QB Sam Bradford. To say he has had a disappointing career would be an understatement. He's already missed 17 games in 4 seasons. And in the 2 seasons he was healthy, his 39 interceptions to 28 interceptions leave much to be desired. This is a huge make-or-break year for Bradford. Time will tell whether or not Britt can help save Bradford from being on the chopping block in 2015.
Going back to Britt's fantasy value: Don't view him as anything more than a WR4. There is plenty of upside for WR3 status. But there are simply too many things that can go wrong than go right in 2014. Injuries, another arrest and bad quarterback play should all be considered.
In the end Britt could be a nice surprise, or he could be just another receiver who failed to live up to expectations he brought with him out of college.